Nigeria sets aside US$400mn for Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project

Tuesday, 29 January 2013 09:27

Nigerian minister of foreign affairs Olugbenga Ashiru. (Image source: www.mfa.gov.ng)Nigeria has set aside a sum of US$400mn in its 2013 budget for the construction of the Calabar-Ajaokota-Kano pipeline in order to speed up the completion of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project (TSGP)

The information was revealed by the Nigerian minister of foreign affairs Olugbenga Ashiru at a summit on implementation status of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project under the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative (PICI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

According to President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented at the summit by Ashiru, the Calabar-Ajaokota-Kano pipeline will be the first direct activity to bring gas that will feed into the TSGP project.

The minister of foreign affairs said, “We wish to emphasise the role which the private sector could play in this venture. A bankable framework for the pipeline has been finalised to encourage effective private sector participation.”

Ashiru revealed that Algerian and Nigerian teams have met to review the market study and terms of reference to reflect the current realities and regional demands.

The minister conveyed the President’s words by stating that “Nigeria is convinced that the TSGP project is a move in the right direction and an imperative to build more bridges that will cement African cooperation and strengthen inter-African trade and subsequently enhance its integration”.